Member Resources

MassHealth has issued billing code guidance on two items (1) COVID MMQ Coding and (2) Claim Error Code 570 for Long Term Care Type of Claims and/or Institutional Type of Claims, which we are reproducing.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) this week released its 2022 data book on health care spending and the Medicare program.

On July 18, 2022, MassHealth released a Request for Responses (RFR) for the next cycle of its Behavioral Health (BH) and Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Community Partners program.

The DPH through the Infection Prevention and Control Resource Hub will host office hours dedicated to addressing antimicrobial stewardship challenges on July 26, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm.

The deadline for nursing facilities to file the 2022 DCC-Q Final Form electronically on the UMASS portal is July 30th. The webform to submit the final filing can be accessed at https://nf.uenter.org/NF/.

The similarities between Hollywood and Healthcare are uncanny – both are highly sensitive to demographic trends and consumer preferences. Cinema and Skilled Nursing were also hardest hit by the pandemic and share similar challenges on the road to recovery. The target audiences may be different but share the desire to “stay home and chill” – Home & Community Based Theatre is here to stay.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to offer three important virtual education programs designed to help facilities understand and comply with new guidance and requirements. Registration is now open by visiting https://www.maseniorcare.org/events or by clicking on the specific program links.

Mass Senior Care Association has collaborated with Jonathan Gruber, Ford Director of Economics at MIT, to develop a Long Term Care Career Advancement Survey. The purpose of this survey is to help us quantify the level of interest in career advancement among CNAs, and perceived barriers to advancement they may need assistance to overcome. Responses to this survey will provide MSCA with critical data needed to promote public policy and identify funding opportunities focused on career advancement of CNAs. This

On July 19, 2022, the DPH shared updated clinical guidance for COVID-19 therapeutics. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (PAXLOVID) continues to be the preferred treatment for most patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at high risk of progression to severe disease and continues to be widely available and in adequate supply in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to launch the Vote 2022 Campaign to ensure the long term care community has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections. At the November 8, 2022 Election, Massachusetts voters will elect a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, constitutional officers, members of Congress and local elected officials.

In addition to the $115 million contained in the FY23 conference committee budget, the Senate Ways & Means Committee this afternoon released its version of the Omnibus Economic Development Bill which, like the House of Representatives, includes an additional $165 million in vital funding for nursing facilities, and MassHealth posted to COMMBUYS a Question and Answer document on the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Nursing Facility Capital Improvement and Innovation Project Forgivable Loan Program authorized under the state’s ARPA COVID-19 Recovery Act signed into law by Governor Baker on December 13, 2021.

The FY23 Budget Conference Committee has approved $115 million for vital investments for nursing facility direct care staff and patient quality supports, and the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has renewed the declaration that a public health emergency exists​. This is effective July 15, 2022 and will continue for 90 days pursuant to federal law.

The House last night wrapped up a marathon session with the passage of its Omnibus Economic Development Bill. We are pleased to share that the House included $165 million in vital nursing home workforce investments as part of its $4.2 billion Economic Development bill.

On July 7, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the display copy of the FY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule.

Mass Senior Care Association has collaborated with Jonathan Gruber, Ford Director of Economics at MIT, to develop a Long Term Care Career Advancement Survey. The purpose of this survey is to help us quantify the level of interest in career advancement among CNAs, and perceived barriers to advancement they may need assistance to overcome. Responses to this survey will provide MSCA with critical data needed to promote public policy and identify funding opportunities focused on career advancement of CNAs.

MassHealth issued updated Instructions for the filing of the 2022 Final DCC-Q form, clarifying how to report the federal and state revenue COVID-19 revenue, DPH revised guidance on the Implementation of Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding Control of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities, Mass Senior Care would like to remind members of the revised guidance issued on June 10, 2022 related to admissions and quarantine for new admissions and CMS will host a National Stakeholder Call on Tuesday, July 19.

The CDC recently updated its guidance on enhanced barrier precautions​ (EBP) for all health care settings, including nursing homes. The guidance expands to residents that trigger the use of EBP and indicates it should be followed for any resident in the facility with:​​

Last week, the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously passed S.2973 An Act to expand access to high-quality, affordable early education and care. This reform legislation will transform early education and child care in the Commonwealth by making it more accessible and affordable for families, providing high-quality care for young children, strengthening early education providers, improving compensation and professional development for the early education workforce, and addressing the workforce needs of Massachusetts employers. Mass Senior Care Association has supported and advocated for

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to launch the Vote 2022 Campaign to ensure the long term care community has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections. At the November 8, 2022 Election, Massachusetts voters will elect a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, constitutional officers, members of Congress and local elected officials. Many of our residents have participated in elections throughout their lives and view voting as an important civic obligation. Ensuring that long term care residents can

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) secured an agreement with a nursing facility company that has resulted in a $7.85 million dollar settlement. The DOJ case notes examples of facility staff disenrolling residents from Medicare Advantage (MA) plans back to Original Medicare without the resident’s consent. As part of the settlement agreement the nursing facility organization was required to admit to the specifics of the violations.

Mass Senior Care Association has been working tirelessly over the last several months to secure much needed funding for Massachusetts nursing facilities. We are pleased to share that the House of Representatives is finalizing action on its proposed $165 million in vital nursing home workforce investments as part of its $3.8 billion Economic Development bill. The funding would be executed through Medicaid COVID-19 supplemental payments.

MassHealth today notified nursing facilities that the UMASS Portal for the Electronic Filing of the 2022 Final Direct Care Cost-Quotient (DCC-Q) Filing is live. The Final Filing is due on July 30th and nursing facilities must file the form electronically on the UMASS portal.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to launch the Vote 2022 Campaign to ensure the long term care community has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections. At the November 8, 2022 Election, Massachusetts voters will elect a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, constitutional officers, members of Congress and local elected officials.

Members are provided information on MassHealth payments, last week's Massachusetts State Senate unanimous passing of S.2973 an act to expand access to high-quality, affordable early education and care, and OHHS responses to issues and concerns regarding the new brokered transportation process identified by members in a recent Mass Senior Care survey.

The FY23 Budget Conference Committee is continuing its deliberations to adopt the new state fiscal year budget for the July 2022 through June 2023 period and Mass Senior Care is continuing to urge lawmakers to support both the $40 million in workforce funding contained in the House budget and the $75 million in workforce funding and nursing facility quality improvement in the Senate budget, and CMS yesterday issued guidance on staffing measures tied to the five-star rating system, updating its staffing measures to include three on staffing levels and three on staff turnover.

In an effort to support members with the revised Long Term Care Surveillance Testing guidance, Mass Senior Care has informed member medical supply vendors of the increased demand for rapid antigen test kits, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will be holding a conference call for long-term care facilities on Wednesday, July 13 at 11:00 a.m.

The Boston Medical Center Training and Technical Assistance (BMC TTA) is offering DATA waiver trainings in July. This eight-hour course prepares physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) recently convened, through an open procurement, representatives to serve on two Health Equity Technical Advisory Groups in support of the EOHHS Quality Measure Alignment Taskforce's goal of advising EOHHS on the measurement and reporting of health and health care inequities and accountability for reducing such inequities.

DPH released a Clinical Advisory for long term care facilities regarding infection prevention and control recommendations related to invasive group A streptococcal infections.

Over the past two years, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the federal government issued several 1135 waivers related to routine life safety code requirements. Now that these waivers have been rescinded, it’s time for nursing facilities to return to the basics as it relates to compliance with life safety code requirements.

CMS recently issued QSO-22-19-NH, which outlines revisions to the following: Surveyor Guidance for some Phase 2 & and all Phase 3 Requirements of Participation; Arbitration Agreement Requirements; Investigating Complaints & Facility Reported Incidents; and Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide.

We are pleased to announce that Susan Misiorski has joined Mass Senior Care Association as the Vice President of Workforce Development. “Susan brings with her the ability to implement new strategies in the context of today’s unique senior living operations challenges,” said Tara M. Gregorio, President of Mass Senior Care. “We are delighted to have her join the MSCA team to enhance our existing workforce offerings, particularly with regard to staff recruitment and retention and leadership development.”

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) today issued an updated RY 2022 Medicaid nursing facility rate regulation which includes $40 million in annualized funding for a prospective FY 2023 Monthly Supplemental payment for the July 2022 through September 2022 period, and MassHealth today sent to nursing facilities three separate documents in regard to the Direct Care Cost-Question (DCC-Q) Final Filing for RY 2022, which is due on July 30, 2022.

Mass Senior Care heard from several members yesterday that there was a discrepancy in the DPH data and the actual data that nursing facilities submitted to NHSN related to unboosted staff.

On June 6, 2022, CMS released an updated Payroll Based Journal Technical User’s Guide. Nursing facilities should run staffing reports that are available in CASPER to verify the accuracy and completeness of their final submission prior to the submission deadline. CMS will conduct audits to assess a facility’s compliance related to quarterly reporting.

On June 9, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) affirmed their strong support for the goals of MassHealth’s 1115 extension proposal submitted in December 2021 and approved a temporary extension of the current 1115 waiver while CMS and MassHealth finalize negotiations on the 5-year agreement. The temporary extension updates the expiration date for the current 1115 waiver to September 30, 2022. 

Palm Center in Chelmsford, a Mass Senior Care member facility, is being recognized with a 2022 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which honors long term and post-acute care providers that have demonstrated their commitment to improving the quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities.

On June 29, 2022 CMS released QSO-22-19-NH Revised Long-Term Care Surveyor Guidance which includes revisions to surveyor guidance on Phases 2 & 3, arbitration agreement requirements, investigating complaints and facility reported incidents and the psychosocial outcome severity guide.

Eighteen House Representatives, including Representative James McGovern, Representative Stephen Lynch and Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts signed onto a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure requesting that the agency consider a three-year phase-in of the Medicare PDPM parity adjustment, so payment reductions are avoided in FY 2023.

On July 31, 2022, the Department of Public Health will begin enforcing the Putting Patients First statute, G.L., c. 111, s. 228 (“PPF”). This law requires health care providers to notify patients about charges and payments for proposed admissions, procedures, services, and referrals that are specific to the patient’s insurance carrier. This law authorizes the DPH, consistent with its authority to regulate health care providers, to penalize providers who fail to comply with a penalty up to $2,500 for each

The DPH released Updates to Long-Term Care Surveillance and Outbreak Testing guidance, and information on MassHealth Robotics Processing Automation (RPA) Policy.

Members are provided information on nurse aide testing requirements and a DPH webinar “Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection in the Healthcare Setting.”

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on July 14th at 10:00 am for their monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. Representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Massachusetts State Police/Commonwealth Fusion Center will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends. This meeting will include a case study of a cybersecurity incident from Chuck Nelson, CEO of Dickinson County Health System. These calls will continue to occur on the second Thursday of every month

The Berkshire County Regional Employment Board and Holyoke Community College have each been awarded $500,000 from the Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants for Expanded Training Capacity & Employment Program Performance to provide training, placement, and retention services to unemployed and underemployed Massachusetts residents.